Resolved Print Management Software

Hello,
I have a peer to peer network, of about 20 PCs running on Windows 7, 8 and 10.
Someone please recommend basic suitable print management software - essentially to give rights like:

• User and Computer printing rights (some PCs run shared applications)
  
• Printing in colour, BW or both.
  
• Number of copies printed par day par user or PC

etc
kf

 

We need more information. How many printers and how are they connected. If your printers are already "network ready" and connected to your network via an Ethernet connection to your router/switch (or via wireless), you should not need any print management software. The printer's internal print server should easily be able to handle the tasks itself. And the better printing devices can log the computer that sends the print jobs. Or a separate print server could do it too - and probably at a much more affordable price than a software package. This would sure work better than sharing a printer that is tethered to a PC.

If still needing a software package, I don't know of any that are free for networks that large. PaperCut, for example, is free, but only for up to 5 users.

What is your budget and will there be more users in the foreseeable future?

 

I have one printer connected to the network via an Ethernet connection to an ethernet switch.
I do not have a budget as yet, but I don't want to spend a lot on the solution. I do not expect too much growth in the near future.

 

Well, I don't have any current experience in such software so maybe someone else reading will come by with some advice. I asked about more users because 20 users might be a threshold for some volume licenses. It was be a shame if you have to buy a 50 user license because you had 21 or 22 users.

 

Hi Steve,
It is a pool office. All can print as as much as they want - and therein lies the problem - the cost of paper and toner is ever increasing. I would like to control that.

 

I have seen this scenario many times before and I can tell you trying to control it this way can cause more problems with moral and trust issues - especially if your employees feel "Big Brother" is watching.

I might suggest implementing a policy change first. One where the employees help develop the policies, fully explaining why it is being developed and implemented. Perhaps a manual log by the printer where, using the honor system, employees mark how many pages they just printed when they come pick up the print outs. Do this in part so they themselves can see how much they print - and maybe where they can cut back.

Ask the employees where company policy can change to reduce the number of pages printed and the amount of ink per page too. This will help make them feel part of the solution, not the problem. Look at everything - do these forms need to be so long? Can we get it down to one page with fewer questions? Do we need 3 copies? Are hard copies really necessary in the first place?

If hard copies are absolutely necessary, can, at least for the office copies, they be in gray scale instead of full black or color?

Emphasize the printers are for company business only. Show them, so they understand, how much toner/ink and paper is costing the company.

Go into tree-hugging mode and note reducing print-outs saves trees. Minimizing toner and ink usage helps keep hazardous waste out of landfills, our drinking water and wildlife habitats. Fewer printouts saves electricity too. It might also mean fewer walks for them to the printer (though that may be a good thing if that's the only exercise they get all day )!

Explain if "we" don't reduce toner/ink and paper costs through those volunteer efforts, the company will be forced to take more drastic cost-cutting measures from print management software to even greater steps.

Most importantly, make sure you start out by explaining that you need their help.

 

Thank you Bill for suggesting this approach. I willcertainly share. It is gr8 to know I can get solutions other than technical ones.

 

No promises it will work but it is usually better for the work environment to first try to get every one on board voluntarily.

And maybe if it works, you can use some of the savings to buy the office donuts to celebrate on the last Friday of the month (like today). I like chocolate glazed. Or Boston cream. Or regular glazed.

 

Am closing this thread. Trying out Bill's approach. Thx Bill.